Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has approved the disbursement of ₦49 million to 90 youth organisations across the state as the second tranche of the 2026 youth subvention programme, aimed at strengthening youth participation in governance and community development.
The Commissioner for Youth Development, Adesola Adedayo, disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, saying the intervention was designed to strengthen youth organisations, promote grassroots participation and empower young people to contribute meaningfully to the development of the state.
Mr Adedayo said the ₦49 million being distributed to the 90 organisations represented the second tranche of the state government’s youth subvention for 2026.
“The ₦49m subvention we are disbursing to 90 youth groups is the second tranche of the state government’s subvention to youth organisations for 2026,” he said.
He explained that the programme supports registered youth, student and community-based organisations in implementing their programmes and managing their activities without excessive reliance on politicians or personal contributions from members.
The programme has also been expanded to include community-based youth organisations at the grassroots.
Why the funding was introduced
Mr Adedayo said the ultimate objective was to ensure that young people become active contributors to Ekiti’s development.
He urged the beneficiaries to use the funds responsibly for programmes that would strengthen their organisations, develop members and contribute to their communities.
He also encouraged youth organisations to take their associations seriously, acquire relevant skills and participate in other government programmes aimed at improving the capacity and welfare of young people.
Accountability measures
The commissioner said the government had introduced measures to ensure transparency and accountability in the disbursement and utilisation of the funds.
Beneficiary organisations are required to maintain functional association bank accounts into which the subvention will be paid. They are also expected to submit reports detailing their activities and explaining how the funds were utilised.
Mr Adedayo said the government would continue expanding the programme to accommodate more duly registered and active youth organisations whose activities could be verified.
Government targets grassroots youth
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Development, Elijah Maxwell, said the intervention had enabled youth organisations to finance programmes, meet office-related expenses and organise activities capable of positively engaging young people.
Mr Maxwell said the consistency of the intervention since 2024 demonstrated the Oyebanji administration’s commitment to youth development.
He added that direct financial support could help keep young people engaged in productive activities and reduce their dependence on politicians for the survival of their associations.
The South-West Treasurer of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Ashabi Sabi, described the intervention as a departure from the past, when student organisations had to approach individuals and politicians for financial assistance.
Mr Sabi said the subvention had improved NANS’s ability to run its affairs and implement programmes.
He said the organisation would use its allocation for initiatives with direct benefits to students, including assistance for students facing financial difficulties and programmes focused on welfare and capacity development.
The Ekiti State Chairman of the National Youth Congress, Temitope Adedara, and his National Youth Council of Nigeria counterpart, James Bankole, also commended the government for extending the scheme to grassroots youth organisations.
They said the inclusion was significant because many grassroots groups lacked the resources required to execute programmes and sustain their activities.
What it means for Ekiti youths
The intervention provides direct financial support to youth organisations that may otherwise struggle to fund programmes, maintain operations or engage young people at the community level.
Beyond the immediate ₦49 million disbursement, the state government says the broader objective is to build stronger youth organisations, increase grassroots participation and encourage young people to contribute to community development.
However, the effectiveness of the programme will ultimately depend on whether the funds are transparently utilised for the purposes for which they were released.
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